The Press and Journal scored a hat-trick at this year’s Highlands and Islands Media Awards, winning three of the top accolades.
Highland news editor Neil MacPhail was presented with the Barron Trophy to mark his lifetime achievements in journalism in the north.
Jane Candlish, the newspaper’s chief reporter for the Highlands and Islands, won the top story of the year award for her reporting of the controversy surrounding police officers routinely carrying guns on Highland streets.
And David Kerr received the Alex Main Trophy for the winner of the young journalist of the year category.
Press and Journal editor in chief Damian Bates said the honours were well deserved.
“What a wonderful achievement for the team and a testament to their hard work and skill,” he added.
“We’re very proud of them all.”
Mr MacPhail, 66, who lives in Inverness, was brought up in Campbeltown, Argyll, and moved to Peebles and Inverurie before deciding on a career in journalism.
In 1968, he began as a trainee reporter with the Evening Express and Press and Journal, initially working in Aberdeen.
As part of his training, he spent six months working in a district office at Inverness, and has been based in the Highland capital since.
He had two spells as a freelance journalist and a further two periods with the Press and Journal in a career spanning 46 years.
Mr MacPhail said: “It’s nice to be appreciated, although it was quite strange to be described as the oldest full-time working journalist in the north.”
He added that he was particularly pleased that two other members of his team had won awards.
Miss Candlish, 34, worked for the Strathspey and Badenoch Herald before joining the Press and Journal in 2005.
She said: “I am pleased that the hard work of the Press and Journal in covering all aspects of the debate about armed police in the Highlands and island has been recognised.
“I am also delighted for my two colleagues, particularly Neil, who has been a valuable example to me during my Press and Journal career.”
Mr Kerr, 24, thanked the two other winners for their “time, advice and patience”, adding: “It was a surprise just to be nominated so I’m delighted to have won. It’s a great way to end my first 12 months in Inverness with the P&J.”
The trio were among 270 guests at the Diageo-sponsored annual Highlands and Islands Press Ball, at the New Drumossie Hotel in Inverness